Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-01

-@n Ex-Union Soldier Describes the Nc
Famous Rebel Efnr Scenan


known to the business men of Nash
vile and Tennessee. was present at
1ne reunion of ex-Confederates at
Macon. Ga. which President Davis at
tended and stood within few feet of
MIN during the scenes of the review
OF which the Northern Republican
press have had SO much to say. MIR.
Gifford is pronounced Republican
and an ex-Union soldier, is member
OF George II. Thomas Post, No. 1. G..
a H. In an interview he said: AZ
1eei 1T my duty as an American citizen,
TO protest against the wrong which is
being done the people of the South
ana more particularly of Georgia in
the publicati ms which are being made
by leading journals of my party in re-
gard to the conduct of ex-Confederates
at the Macon reunion and the conduct
OF MIR. Davis. 1t is true that the al
legged incidents which are made the
basis of this assault by the Northern
and Eastern press occurred in Georgia,
but the assault has widened until it is
sought to reflect upon the loyalty of
the South. There were few Con-
federate flags 3uttering but these
were principally in front of sa-
looms and underneath them were
placards stating the saloon was
ex-Confederate headquarters. the de-
vice evidently being sharp dodge by
the saloon-keeper to attract custom.
was standing within ten feet of
Mr.. Davis on the porch of Colonel
johnson residence where the meet
ing between him and the Confederate
veterans about which so much misrep-
rssentation has been made occurred.
saw the chair brought out and the
old man take his seat in it. When the
flag was pushed forward to the railing,
Mrs. Davis leaned forward and pluck
ing a shred from its torn and tattered
folds, fell back in her chair and put
ting her bands to her face began to
weep. The scene was such that no
man could have resisted its pathos.
Not an eye in that vast assemblage
was dry. Men wept, yes, but their
tears were not disloyal.y to the Union.
but were forced from them by the sad
ness of the scene. Union soldiers who
were there wept and are not ashamed of
their emotion. 1t was i'll this excitement
the flag was pushed forward to Mr.
Davis. Rising with an effort. he con-
"vulsively snatched its folds and pressed
them to his lips, then fell back in his
chair exhausted. Then arose cries for
Governor Gordon. He stepped to the
front and delivered speech which
Nvas as loyal to the Union rs any John
Sherman ever made.
When he referred to the perfect
union of the sections to-day under one
flag, the cheering was louder and more
spontaneous by far even than which |
greeted the incident of the flag. No |
man could have looked upon that as
sem blage and heard their shouts and |
honestly entertain the faintest idea |
that these people are disloyal to the |
Union. The flag was not torn to
pieces by men eager to preserve relics |
of the emblem which Jefferson Davis |
had kissed, as the Republican press |
charge. 1t was quietly borne away. |
and not shred was taken from it ex-
cept that by Mrs. Davis. l walked |
among the thousands of ex-Confeder- |
ates at Macon. and talked with hun |
and / declare. with all sincerity |
and truthfulness, that 1 did not see or |
hear n single thing which indicated |
any antagonism to the Union. L re-
member that, after it was all over. / |
was talking with party of men who |
had fought for the Union. and hap
.pened like me to be in Macon on bust |
ness. and some one remarked that he
wondered if any attempt would be
cmade by the Republican press to
misrepresent the occasion. and
we agreed that those who
seek to make the people of other
sections believe that those ex-Confed-
crates had acted as enemies to the I'M
ion, and given vent to disloyal senti-
ments, would be nothing short of gross
injastfce. and no man would have the
Imagination to attempt to do
so unless he were a sensational news
paper correspondent. AS men we felt
that we would be recrcant to our sense
and consciences if we failed to recog-
nize the loyalty among these old vet
Grams, now our peaceful fellow-citizens.
Now l see that the press of the North
has done a great wrong. L know the
Injustice of the charges. and l feel it
my duty to say what know. 1t would
be base ingratitude to the people
among whom live if did not raise
my voice to protest against this misrep-
One little circumstance
illustrates the temper of the people.
L had occasion to spend good deal of
time at the depot looking after freight,
and frequently stopped to look ut the
gaily decorated cars which had brought
Mr.. Davis from Mississippi. There
were many flags upon it. but every one
was the flag of our Nation.-NGshvtiie \
Letter in Minneapolis Tribune (Rep.)